United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Wildlife Services Directive

2.340
June 17, 2013

FERAL, FREE-RANGING, AND HYBRID DOG DAMAGE MANAGEMENT

1. PURPOSE

To establish guidance for Wildlife Services’ (WS) response to requests for assistance in reducing
damage problems or health and safety threats associated with feral, free-ranging, and hybrid
dogs.

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This is a new directive. This directive replaces content related to feral dogs that is contained in
WS Directive 2.320, Invasive Species Damage Management, dated February 6, 2004.

3. AUTHORITY

Authority to assist Federal, State, local, and foreign agencies and individuals with regard to
wildlife damage and control is pursuant to Title 7 Code of Federal Regulation (7 CFR) § 371.6.

4. POLICY

a. The WS State Director shall establish a State-level policy that is approved by the WS
Regional Director, and that recognizes and includes those elements as prescribed in Section 7
Implementation, prior to conducting feral, free-ranging, or hybrid dog damage management.

b. WS personnel may conduct feral and free-ranging dog damage management to protect
agriculture and animal husbandry (e.g., livestock, poultry), and natural resources (e.g. threatened
and endangered species, forestry, wildlife), in both urban and non-urban areas, according to
guidelines and requirements in their State-level policy.

c. WS personnel may conduct feral and free-ranging dog damage management to protect
property or human health and safety in non-urban areas, according to guidelines and
requirements in their State-level policy.

d. WS personnel may conduct feral and free-ranging dog damage management to protect
property or human health and safety in urban areas, according to guidelines and requirements in
their State-level policy and when meeting the additional requirements contained in Section 7e.


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Feral and free-ranging dog damage management on airports/airfields is exempt from Section 7e
requirements.

e. WS personnel may conduct hybrid dog damage management to protect agriculture and
animal husbandry, natural resources, property, or human health and safety, in urban and non-
urban areas, according to guidelines and requirements in their State-level policy. Requests for
assistance in urban areas must meet the requirements contained in Section 7e.

5. BACKGROUND

State, local, or tribal authorities have jurisdiction over feral, free-ranging, and hybrid dogs.
However, dog-related laws and regulations vary according to the jurisdiction. Most State, local,
or tribal laws and regulations require that dog owners comply with leash laws and trespassing
ordinances. Generally, owners must maintain direct control of their pets so that they do not pose
health and safety threats to humans, other animals, or themselves.

6. DEFINITIONS
a. Feral Dog: an ownerless or homeless wild dog.
b. Free-ranging Dog: a dog that is not under the owner’s direct control.

c. Hybrid Dog: a canid that is the progeny of a domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and a wild
canid (e.g., gray wolf, coyote), or its subsequent progeny.

d. Urban Area: a city or town with a population greater than 50,000 inhabitants and the
urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such city or town.

e. WS Personnel: any Federal employee, State employee, student intern, or volunteer
working under the auspices of a WS-sanctioned program.

7. IMPLEMENTATION

a. WS personnel shall conduct feral, free-ranging or hybrid dog damage management in
coordination with State, local, or tribal authorities with jurisdiction over dog control.

b. Each WS State Director shall develop a State-level policy prior to conducting feral, free-
ranging, or hybrid dog damage management. At a minimum, the WS State-level policy must:

(1) Identify implementing procedures that satisfy requirements of this national-level WS
policy; and,

(2) Require that WS personnel consult with, and gain concurrence from, the State and
local authorities with jurisdiction over feral, free-ranging, or hybrid dogs before conducting dog


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damage management actions, if such local authorities with jurisdiction exist. WS personnel may
gain general concurrence for specified types of situations and actions, and are not required to
acquire case-by-case concurrence, unless required by State or local authorities.

c. WS State Directors shall ensure that WS take or handling of feral, free-ranging, or hybrid
dogs on tribal land is conducted in collaboration with tribal authorities and that tribal authorities
either approve of, or request WS actions related to feral, free-ranging, or hybrid dogs.

d. Where WS personnel determine that a captured dog is a pet, WS personnel shall inform
the land/resource owner as soon as is practicable.

e. Inurban areas where local animal control offices or authorities exist, WS personnel shall
collaborate with them to determine if WS action is necessary to solve the property or human
health and safety problem associated with the feral, free-ranging or hybrid dogs. If WS action is
necessary and requested by the local authority, WS personnel must achieve/conduct the
following: (1) Written approval of the WS Regional Director; (2) Notification to the WS Deputy
Administrator; and, (3) Written request from the State, local, or tribal authority with jurisdiction
over feral, free-ranging or hybrid dogs, if such local authorities with jurisdiction exist. WS
personnel shall ensure that written requests for assistance include: (1) a statement of the problem;
(2) the location and time frame for WS activities; and (3) sufficient details regarding the scope of
the assistance requested.

f. This policy does not in any way preclude WS personnel from appropriately defending
themselves, their working animals, or restrained animals captured pursuant to official WS
actions, from dog attacks.
8. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE
This policy applies to WS personnel acting in their official capacity.
9. REFERENCES

a. The Act of March 2, 1931 (7 USC 426-426b)

b. The Rural Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1988
(7 USC 426c)

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William H. Clay
Deputy Administrator